Hit me with your best shot
Nancy M. Schuessler
You’ve chosen a wonderful groom, now it’s time to choose the photographer. He is in charge of capturing the priceless memories you’ll carry into your lifetime. Here’s how to find that special someone to photograph your day:
Hot Shots: Decide on a Style
Wedding photographers fall into two camps — traditional and photojournalist. A traditional photographer will arrange you, your bridal party and family members in set poses to create formal portraits. The photojournalist will snap candid shots as the day unfolds. A great photojournalist will include some formal shots as well, but the majority will be impromptu and genuine, with an overall effect of capturing the spirit of your day.
Color Versus Black-and-White
Today’s hot trend? Black-and-white photography, explains Skip Cohen, president of Wedding Photographers International, based in Santa Monica, California. “It’s significantly more powerful because you’re not distracted by the colors in the image,” he says, adding, “You’re truly looking at the emotion in the shot, which makes it so compelling.” Even if you love the dramatic intensity of black-and-white, you’ll probably want a few color photographs. How else will you remember the perfect pink of your wedding bouquet or the pretty table linens? Consider hiring a photographer who can do both – especially if your wedding is a highly formal affair, carefully coordinated down to the last detail. If price is the paramount consideration, remember that color photographs are less expensive.
The Proof Is In The Proofs
Visit the photographer’s studio and review his portfolio. Ask to see proofs of one whole wedding from start to finish. Do the bride and groom look relaxed and natural? Are the photographs visually exciting or do you grow bored while flipping through them? Is the photographer comfortable with a variety of lighting situations? For example, if the portfolio only includes outdoor receptions but you’re having an evening ceremony and indoor reception, it might be cause for concern. Ask for a list of references and talk to past clients. Find out if the relationship between the photographer and that particular bride and groom was everything they’d expected.
Tell Me a Story
As you look through the photographer’s sample portfolio, ask yourself if he is a “storyteller.” “The photographs should tell a wonderful, comprehensive, emotional story, like a fine production company would do if they were creating a movie script,” says Bambi Cantrell, an international photographer based in San Francisco and co-author of The Art Of Wedding Photography. She explains, “They should capture a bride and groom’s unique personality, as well as unexpected details.” For example, a shot might be included of the bride’s refrigerator crowded with magnets and pre-wedding reminder notes.
Newbies Need Not Apply
Hiring a talented friend or beginner might seem like a great way to save money, but think again. “By nature, a wedding is totally unpredictable. You need someone who’s trained and highly experienced, who can deal with all of the crazy, unexpected things that might go wrong,” says Cantrell. Consider how an amateur might react if the bride is an hour-and-a-half late, or the flowers don’t arrive, or the groom forgets his shoes or faints. Under pressure an amateur might become frustrated or unable to concentrate, whereas a seasoned professional will know to remain calm, relaxed, flexible. A great photographer knows how to troubleshoot when necessary and can easily switch agendas if the unexpected happens. You can tell if a photographer is seasoned by the answers to your questions. He should be comfortable enough with his abilities to work in your comfort zone, not his. “A photographer might insist on doing everything on a certain time schedule, or he might give you a checklist of poses he intends to shoot, and that should tell you he lacks experience. It means that what’s on that checklist is all he knows how to do, and that’s all you’re going to get,” says Cantrell.
Listen Up
Although you and the photographer need not become best buds, you do need to share a bond. Does he listen to you and your concerns? This is the person who is going to capture those truly emotional moments that someone else might miss. Be aware that some photographers don’t actually like weddings, and finding one who does is an absolute must. “Ask what he likes most about a wedding, then let him talk,” suggests Cantrell. “If he says things like, ‘I love the fact that it’s such a wonderful, spontaneous event and things don’t always go perfectly,’ then that’s your pro - because weddings never go as planned. Then ask what he likes least about weddings, and if the answer is something like, ‘I hate it when the bridal party is late,’ cross him off your list. Weddings rarely happen on time, so that person can’t be a seasoned pro.”
It’s About Time
Another important consideration is how much time you’re willing to give to your photographer during the wedding itself. Are the photographs more important to you than mixing with your guests during reception? This will help you to determine the style of photographer you want. “As you look through a photographer’s samples, try to determine what percentage are posed photographs versus spontaneous, natural images. If 40, 50, or even 60 percent are formal pictures, realize that the majority of your day will be spent posing for photographs,” says Cantrell.
Budget Blunders
Consider making your wedding album a substantial portion of your budget - about 10% of the total cost, according to Cohen. “The biggest mistake a bride and groom can make is shop for a photographer based solely on price,” he adds. Remember that your wedding album will be cherished and passed along through the generations. “It truly is the first heirloom of a brand new family,” explains Cohen. “That’s the purpose of the album - a hand-me-down created for a grandchild who will ask grandma someday, ‘What did you look like on your wedding day?’”
Cover Girl
Think about the amount of coverage you want. Every photographer has a package price based on the amount of time he’ll spend at a wedding. Is he going to be there an hour before the ceremony or from the time of the rehearsal dinner the night before right through to the goodbye wave at the reception? Ask whether the package is flexible and if you can later upgrade.
Assume Nothing
Get everything in writing, even the obvious details. And read the contract. Be sure it spells out exactly what you’re paying for, the photographer’s specific attire, the amount of coverage to be provided, the name of the person who will photograph your wedding, and whatever else you discussed.